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According the the DEC Press Release, "The new proposed multi-use Hut-to-Hut trail system will draw visitors that seek a destination-based experience to visit for more than one day at a time, providing access to lodging and amenities along the way. This new recreational opportunity will provide another economic boost to the Adirondack communities by creating incentives for the expansion of local lodging and amenities for visitors." The report can be downloaded HERE.  Outdoor recreation is frequently the overlooked giant. The Outdoor Recreation Economy Report demonstrate the importance of outdoor recreation in today's economy.
The soon to open Loon & Trail Center will open in Saranac Lake and serve, among other things, as an information/education center for those venturing into the outdoors. It will have exhibits, informational handouts, and items for sale. If you have ideas for what they should be selling you can share your thoughts via a survey they have prepared. You can find it HERE.  Have you contributed to the creation of the Loon & Trails Center? Congratulations to Bill and Mike Madden, owners of the Tousley Building, and our landlords for being selected for NY Main Street funding as part of the Saranac Lake Revitalization Project. They were awarded over $20,000 for improvements to our building including window replacement and improvements to our foyer. It complements our fundraising efforts to create the Loon and Trails education/information Center. Have you donated yet? You can here: https://www.crowdrise.com/actls   Hiking off trail in the Adirondack Park In a recent article at Wimp.com author Michael W. Pirrone describes brain research that cites the benefits of spending time in the natural environment. He cites research where people who took a 90-minute walk through a natural environment benefited much more than those who took a 90-minute walk in an urban environment. How did they measure it? They did brain scans and found decreased blood flow to the subgenual prefrontal cortex which is associated with bad moods. So, feeling sad, worrying, and depression all seem to be lessened with a walk in a natural environment.
What’s the scary part? The average child in the U.S. currently spends half as much time outside as compared to only 20 years ago. “Only 6% of children will play outside on their own in a typical week. Conversely, kids are now spending almost 8 hours per day watching television, playing video games, or using a computer, tablet, or phone for recreational purposes.” You can read the entire article here: What Hiking Does To The Brain Is Pretty Amazing.  Ken Ilgunas writes a very interesting article in the New York Times on property rights and its history in an article titled This is Our Country. Let's Walk It; In much of Europe, walking wherever you want is perfectly legal. Not in America. Take a look and see what you think.
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Jack Drury,
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